Blood, Sweat, Tears— and Breakthroughs on the Ice Age Trail

This April, I headed out for a 4-day stretch on Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail with my 14-year-old son, Denim, my good friend Alex, and his 9-year-old son, E—who was backpacking for the first time ever. Our route took us from Underdown through Alta Junction and into the Harrison Hills segment. We camped at Dog Lake, Bus Lake, and Chain Lakes shelters before calling the trip a little early due to illness and a river ford swollen by spring runoff.

In the space of three and a half days, we had it all: water crossings, forest tunnels, hills that kept coming, and the full range of emotions that come with putting miles on your feet and carrying everything you need on your back. There were blood, sweat, and yes—tears. But there were also breakthroughs, belly laughs, and some serious trail growth, especially from the kids.

This trip was also a chance to put the Alpha Direct Rip-Back Hoodie through another round of testing. All three guys wore theirs—Denim even solo-tented for the first time in his—and I was field-testing a new hoodie design for future release.

The Rip-Back performed just like I built it to: lightweight warmth, breathable comfort, and quick adaptation on the move. The signature double-snap hood let the boys vent heat during climbs and cinch up tight when the evening temps dropped. And the kangaroo pocket got plenty of use for cold hands, snacks, and maps.

What made me most proud was watching Denim carry all his own gear like a pro, and seeing E crush his first backpacking trip with determination and grit. These are the kinds of moments I build gear for—the real-world stuff that doesn’t happen on a product page.

We didn’t finish our planned miles, but we came away with something better: stories, growth, and the reminder that trail time—especially shared across generations—is always worth it.